The Indianapolis journal., 1887-12-18
Curious Features Of Philanthropy as
Revealed Among Fashionable Women.
tive of Good Society-Editor Robert Bon
ner and the Female YerseWriterS.
Special TO the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, Dec 1.-THE death of Mrs.
John Jacob Astor and the subsequent elevation
of Mrs. William Astor to the leadership of New
York society. recalls the fact that this enor-
rnously wealthy family has in later generations
become rather numerous IN its membership.
It's hold, in fact upon society at large is due as
much to-day from its ramifcations in various
families as to the great wealth Of the orlgina!
members. 1t is probably safe to say that not
one direct member of the Astor family, whether
bearing the name or not, is employed or asso-
eiated with anyone who is employed IN earning
q living by labor or commercial business. The
Astors, since the old furrier died and left his
business of exporting and carrying in other
hands. have devoted their means. and such en-
ergies as they chose to put into business, into
purchasing and holding real estate. They are
extensive buyers and rare sellers
A marked popularity of the family is that
the traditions Of past ages are kept alive in the
composition and intercourse of its member. In
a country where there is titled class deducing
it's standing. socially, from birth, this is not
distinctive feature; but in America where democ-
cy is generally triumphant. it is rare to see the
distinction of title and place maintained in fam
lily relations. The Astor family has its distinct
i've head and all the other members are
subordinate to it and occupy their fixed place in
tho scale of authority and respect in the family.
The recognized head Of the family has been for
years Mr.. John Jacob Astor the widower of the
lady who has just died. He is about sixty-seven
years old and fairly well preserved Such little
business activity as he has permitted to himself
during the course of his life, he still maintains.
This means regular visits to his office and the
supervision of its affairs to the extent, at least.
of drawing his income. and directing, in a gen.
eral way, its disbursement He lives the
southwest corner of Fifth avenue and Thirty
fourth street, in house that is unpretentious
in its external appearance and particularly
modest in comparison with the marble palace
of the late Alexander Stewart. just across the
way. The house is of brick, devoid of marked
trimmings. and has for its chief popularity,
remarkably high stoop and plain entrance.
There is lot between Mr.. John Jacob Astor's
house and the brick house just south of him. and
in this place his brother. Mr William Astor,
lives. john Jacob still remains ne nead or he
family. but, through the death of his wife. Mrs.
William Astor will become the leader Of -sew
York society. The manner in which this lady
is distinguished from the other Astors, Is by
the marking of her visiting cards and by the
etc. The head of the family is known simply
as '9Irs. Astor," and any other Astor in the fam
lily must place her initial or the given name Of
her husband before the word "Astor" upon her
cards or other social documents.
The late Mrs. John Jacob Astor was Miss
Augusta Gibbes, of Savannah, Ga. She was
married in 1S45. Her only child was Mr.. Will
liam Waldorf Astor, who enjoys the singular
distinction of being the only member of the fam
lily who has done anything striking outside of
caring for his money. He tried his hand In
politics. and made respectable failure he
has written book or two, and has been United
States minister to Italy. This remarkable
Astor married Miss Paul. of Philadelphla,
about six years ago. and the ceremonies attend
ing the wedding made a redletter day In New
York social history and will long be remem-
bered by those who took part in them or wit
messed them He lives on East Thirty third
street. near Fifth avenue, not far. therefore.
from the family mansions of his father and uncle.
Mrs. William Waldorf Astors brother married
millionaire Drexel's daughter not long ago. 1t
will be seen from this that the immediate head
of the house is small one, but the family OF Mr..
William Astor, brother to John Jacob, Is COM
paratively large. His wife was Miss Schermer-
horn, the daughter of the late Abraham Scher-
merhorn. himself man of great wealth. In
certain ways she is better fitted than her sister
in law to be the leader of New York So
eiety, because she en- joys festivities much more
and is a more vivacious actor in them. She has
four living children. Her oldest daughter. Mrs.
James j. Van Allen. has been dead about six
years. Her second daughter, Helen, is now
Mrs. Roosevelt Roosevelt. This gentleman Of
the double name is an ideal specimen of stalwart
aristocracy, and most of his energies are devoted
course q man of great wealth. and devotes no
time to business The third daughter in this
family, formerly Miss Augusta Astor. is now
Mrs. Coleman Drayton. She has two children.
The daughter Helen, just referred to. has three
Another daughter, Garry. is Mrs. Orme
Wilson. and the remaining child of this union is
from Harvard College and made his first plunge
in New York society this fall. There was to
have been grand ball given in his honor on the
aunt will postpone this and all other festivities
in which the Astor family might naturally en-
gage during this season.
There is a curious story connected with the
marriage of the first daughter of William Astor.
Mrs. Van Allen. She married much against her
fathers will. in spite of the fact that Mr.. Van
Allen was a of independent mems, fully
capable of providing for her in the manner IN
which she had been reared. She lived with him
in Newport, and until her death. her father
never entirely forgave her for marrying against
his wishes
All those married members of the Astor
family live in this city, most of them upon the
fashionable part of Fifth avenue. and they. or
course. have elegant country seats in different
portions of the country. That of Mr.. William
Astor is at Rhinebeck, on the Hudson, and they
all have temporary homes in Newport
The combined wealth of this remarkable fam
fly probably stands without a parallel in the
world 1t has been the steady endeavor of the
living members of the family to underestimate
their possessions in order that they might not
arouse the too bitter jealousy of that class of
population which looks inimically at boarded
wealth. For this reason John Jacob Astor has
never given any authority for statements of his
wealth that put the figures beyond one hundred
million dollars and ordinarily, this sum is looked
upon as the limit of his possessions; neverthe-
less it is a conservative estimate because the
family is constantly buying real estate, as
the income in the shape of rents brings about
an accumulation of actual cash much greater
than they can conveniently dispose of. But
taking one hundred million dollars as a basis
and adding to it the fortune of his brother Will
liam, which is more than half great and the
fortunes possessed by the husbands of the mar
ried daughters of the family. there would be n
total that could not fall short of two hundred
and fifty million dollars